Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-04-02

unce neeutul TO success IN That rigid school.
When l graduated and went home as q
Brevet Second Lieutenant l was received
by father, Carroll, and numerous friends
and relatives, with evident pride and adj
miration. | had forgotten 10 say that our
mother died long before. Carroll, espe-
cially, expressed the greatest satisfaction
with my military bearing, my smart new
uniform, and the fact that / was
whole inch taller than he. 1t is
not necessary 10 crowd this plain mar
rative with details. After some duty al
the West against tho Indians; | was Or
dered to Mexico, and what happened 10
me there l have briefly told. The few let
tiers that received from home told me of
great changes. Carroll had developed
mechanical turn of mind; he had invented
and patented a very useful domestic article,
the sale of which already brought him
good income, and Which, | may say, has
since made him very wealthy. Fathers
health was declining; and was prepared
for the intelligence of his death, which
reached me at New York, where lay some
weeks in the hospital. 1 have already
told how CAROLS home became mine.
Poor, shattered wreck that | was, he
made n hero of me; such ten
der and affectionate treatment, during
a long lifetime, surely no soldier ever re-
ceived before. | come down to our con-
versation of last night. The children had
been put TO bed, and we two were sitting
together i'll the library. | was reading
book; he leaned back thoughtfully in his
chair, his gray head and fine face making
an almost perfect picture of our father.
suddenly he turned TO Inc.
Carson, put up your book; | want to
talk. The fact is, there's been something
IND co. nd
troubles me. See here"
lie went to a secretary, and unlocking a
drawer brought me an envelope, addressed
TO me in fathers we'll known round hand.
He gave me that week before he died,
charging me to deliver it to you. | have
not done so before, because other express
sions that he used led me to believe that
the letter related to n subject that | did not
wish you ever to be Informed about. But
of course that was wrong. | should have
complied with my fathers request long
ago. Here is the letter"
Shall read it,"
Yes"
l opened the envelope.
Dear Carson, my father said, there is
something that | want to say personally to
you; but my failing health warns me that
may never have an opportunity. So l
will write it out, and leave it with Carroll
for you. | need not say how proud We are
of your success in the military profession.
and of your good conduct in Mexico.
l am the more gratified, because | never
expected so much of you. / supposed
YOU would be brave, for that is in the
blood; you came of good Revolutionary
stock; but did not think you had the in
dustry and application to make an army
officer; nor that you had the steadiness OF
purpose TO pursue the military career after
you had entered upon it. | have been
agreeably disappointed i'll you. But you
ought 10 know how much You are indebted
to the generosity and forbearance of your
brother for the opportunity to acquire this
profession.
You will remember how greatly Carroll
was agitated by my announcement of Mr..
Sanders offer, and by your eager claim for
The appointment. There was more in his
conduct at that time than | could account
for; and | took him aside the same night
and urged him TO tell the whole truth.
His answer was given with tears. To
my establishment, he told me that he had
been long enamored of military life; that
he had conceived the idea of going to West
Point; that he had some weeks before
written to Mr.. Sanders on the subject; and
that tho letter had received was really an
answerto his own, although addressed to me.
Il was surprised to hear all this, but
!old Carroll that the matter must at once
be set right by a full explanation of it to
you.
He begged me to do nothing of the
kind. Carson has set his heart upon il,
he said, and he must not be disappointed.
1t will hurt me dreadfully not to 60, but it
will please me to give way to Carson
yielded at last to his entreatieS, though the
!ears stood in his eyes as he spoke of Civ
ing up his cherished project.
TIL s, Carson, is the way you became a
soldier. Never forget what you owe to
Carroll"
never shall forget, long as my life may
be spared. Indeed, what do not owe to
this self sacrificing soul?
handed him the open letter. He read
it in silence and returned it, with the re-
mark
ut is as 1 thought. I am sorry father
left this for you.
1 began to praise the generosity of his
conduct, but he quickly interrupted me.
Now, really, Carson, you needn't talk
that way. What have l done that is SO
praiseworthy? l have allowed you to go
into the army instead of myself, and get
used up at that savage battle. Though if it
comes to that" and the twinkle came into
his eye, Il can't think | should have been
in any danger. General Taylor couldn't
have got me within mile of Buena
Vista"
Nonsense. Carroll! Remember what
father says in his letter about our Revolu-
ionary stock
Well don't know; but guess it was
my duty to stay at home and invent the au-
tomato churn, so That we all might be COM
Portable ont of the money 1t would bring
| laid my arm atfectionately across his
shoulder
BE perfectly serious, brother, and tell
me why you submitted to what was the Sc
cerest sacrifice of your life"
His generous spirit shone radiantly from
his face as he answered
Il did not know the reason then, but
have found it since, in the language of
Saint Paul: Be kindly attectioned one to
another with brotherly love; in honor pre-
ferrinG one another"
BASE BALL
THE Athletics have six pitchers to begin the